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Alcoholic Liver Disease And Over 45s

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that PEOPLE over the age of 45 are three times more likely to drink alcohol almost every day than those who are younger.

The statistics claim that some 13% of adults aged over 45 drink alcohol every day and in people under 45 account 3% drink daily.

The research claims that as people get older they to drink more alcohol with more than one-fifth (22%) of men aged 65 and over-drinking almost every day, compared with just 3% of men aged 16 to 24.

The fact that many people over forty five drink alcohol on a daily basis is staggering, and even more controversial is that those from professional or managerial households drink more alcohol than any other demographic group.

Eric Appleby of Alcohol Concern, commenting on the statistics said: “While drinking is decreasing among younger age groups, the middle-aged middle classes are taking unnoticed risks with their health, increasing their likelihood of suffering illnesses such as liver disease, stroke and cancer.”

We all know how easy it is to use alcohol as a relaxant after a long day, but it very clear that many people are unaware that they are putting themselves at risk by drinking more alcohol than is recommended and that they are aware of.
By regularly going over the recommended unit guidelines, people are putting their health and life in danger. Some of the symptoms of drinking too much include disturbed sleep and weight gain and, more worrying, cancer, heart and liver disease which show little or disguised warning signs.

Liver disease, in particular, is one of the main concerns amongst the medical and health community as around 50 percent of individuals with underlying liver disease have no symptoms. The most common symptoms are very non-specific and they include fatigue or excessive tiredness, lack of drive and occasional itching. Signs of liver disease that are more prominent include jaundice and/or yellowing of the eyes and skin, dark urine, very pale or light coloured stool or bowel movements, mental confusion and retention of fluids in the abdomen or belly.

Government recommendations are for men not to regularly exceed three or four units of alcohol a day and for women not to go over two to three units.